320.827  Label; procedures for issuance; certification; requirements.--No dealer shall sell or offer for sale in this state any new mobile home manufactured after January 1, 1968, unless the mobile home bears a label and the certification by the manufacturer that the mobile home to which the label is attached meets or exceeds the appropriate code. Any mobile home bearing the insignia of approval pursuant to this section shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of all local government ordinances or rules which govern construction, and no mobile home bearing the department insignia of approval shall be in any way modified except in compliance with this chapter. Labels may be issued by the department when applied for with an affidavit certifying that the dealer or manufacturer applying will not attach a label to any new mobile home that does not meet or exceed the appropriate code. No mobile home may be manufactured in this state unless it bears a label and certification that the mobile home meets or exceeds the code. The label for each mobile home shall be displayed in a manner to be prescribed by the department.

History.--s. 8, ch. 67-350; s. 7, ch. 75-203; s. 40, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 11, ch. 82-66; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 3, ch. 96-358; s. 53, ch. 97-100.

320.8285  Onsite inspection.--

(1)  Each county or municipality in this state shall be responsible for the onsite inspection of each mobile home installation located within the jurisdiction of such entity. The onsite inspection shall ensure compliance with the department's uniform installation standards set forth in this chapter and in department rules.

(2)  Each county or municipality may designate the persons who are to perform the onsite inspection. If a county or municipality does not so designate, the department shall designate the persons who are to perform the onsite inspection. A person may not be designated to perform onsite inspections unless that person is competent in the area of mobile home installation.

(3)  The county or municipality issuing a permit for the installation of a mobile home shall issue such permit only to a licensed mobile home installer or to a licensed mobile home dealer or manufactured home owner if the dealer or owner demonstrates on the face of the application that a licensed installer will be performing the actual work. In the case of issuance to an owner, the permit must reflect the name and the license number of the licensed installer performing the work.

(4)  Pursuant to the onsite inspection, each mobile home shall be issued a certificate of occupancy if the mobile home complies with department rules regarding the installation of mobile homes.

(5)  Fees for onsite inspections and certificates of occupancy of mobile homes shall be reasonable for the services performed. A guideline for fee schedules shall be issued by the department.

(6)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall enforce every provision of this section and the rules adopted pursuant hereto, except that local land use and zoning requirements, fire zones, building setback and side and rear yard requirements, site development and property line requirements, subdivision control, and onsite installation inspection requirements, as well as review and regulation of architectural and aesthetic requirements, are hereby specifically and entirely reserved to local jurisdictions. However, any architectural or aesthetic requirement imposed on the mobile home structure itself may pertain only to roofing and siding materials. Such local requirements and regulations for manufactured homes must be reasonable, uniformly applied, and enforced without distinctions as to whether such housing is manufactured, located in a mobile home park or a mobile home subdivision, or built in a conventional manner. No local jurisdiction shall prohibit siting or resiting of used mobile homes based solely on the date the unit was manufactured.

(7)  Park trailers are subject to inspection in the same manner as are mobile homes pursuant to this section.

History.--s. 6, ch. 74-169; s. 10, ch. 75-203; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 12, ch. 82-66; s. 4, ch. 84-182; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 6, ch. 92-148; s. 68, ch. 94-306; s. 49, ch. 97-300; s. 6, ch. 2004-283.

320.830  Reciprocity.--If any other state has codes for mobile homes at least equal to those established by this chapter, the department, upon determining that such standards are being enforced by an independent inspection agency, shall place the other state on a reciprocity list, which list shall be available to any interested person. Any mobile home that bears a seal of any state which has been placed on the reciprocity list may not be required to bear the seal of this state. A mobile home that does not bear the label herein provided shall not be permitted to be manufactured or offered for sale by a manufacturer or dealer anywhere within the geographical limits of this state unless the mobile home is designated for delivery into another state that has not adopted a code entitling the state to be placed on the reciprocity list.

History.--s. 11, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 8, ch. 74-169; s. 8, ch. 75-203; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 4, ch. 96-358.

320.831  Penalties.--

(1)  Whoever violates any provision of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. ss. 5401 et seq., or any rules, regulations, or final order issued thereunder shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each such violation. Each violation of a provision of the act or any rule, regulation, or order issued thereunder shall constitute a separate violation with respect to each mobile home or with respect to each failure or refusal to allow or perform an act required thereby, except that the maximum civil penalty may not exceed $1 million for any related series of violations occurring within 1 year from the date of the first violation.

(2)  Any individual, or a director, officer, or agent of a corporation, who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of s. 610 of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 in a manner which threatens the health or safety of any purchaser is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3)  Any manufacturer, dealer, or inspector who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of ss. 320.822-320.862 or any of the rules adopted by the department is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, provided such violation is not also a violation of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 or any rule, regulation, or final order issued thereunder.

History.--s. 12, ch. 67-350; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 74-99; s. 41, ch. 77-357; s. 5, ch. 78-221; s. 12, ch. 80-217; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 41, ch. 91-224; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.832  Legislative intent.--Nothing herein shall act to nullify or supersede the provisions of chapter 527.

History.--s. 13, ch. 67-350; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.8325  Mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers; uniform installation standards; injunctions; penalty.--

(1)  The department shall adopt rules setting forth uniform standards for the installation of mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers and for the manufacture of components, products, or systems used in the installation of mobile homes, manufactured homes, and park trailers. The rules shall ensure that the home or park trailer is installed on a permanent foundation that resists wind, flood, flotation, overturning, sliding, and lateral movement of the home or park trailer. No entity, other than the department, has authority to amend these uniform standards. The owner of the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer shall be responsible for the installation in accordance with department rules.

(2)(a)  Persons licensed in this state to engage in the business of insuring mobile homes, manufactured homes, or park trailers that are subject to the provisions of this section against damage from windstorm shall issue such insurance only if the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer has been installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and department rules.

(b)  If a mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer is insured against damage caused by windstorm and subsequently sustains windstorm damage of a nature that indicates that the mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer was not installed in the manner required by this chapter and department rules, the person issuing the policy shall not be relieved from meeting the obligations specified in the insurance policy with respect to such damage on the basis that the mobile home or park trailer was not properly installed.

(3)  Whenever a person or entity that engages in the business of manufactured housing installation or in the business of manufacturing components, products, or systems in this state and does so in a manner that is not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department, a person or entity aggrieved thereby may bring an action in the appropriate court for actual damages. In addition, the court may provide appropriate equitable relief, including the enjoining of a violator from engaging in the business or from engaging in further violations. Whenever it is established to the satisfaction of the court that a willful violation has occurred, the court shall award punitive damages to the aggrieved party. The losing party may be liable for court costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the prevailing party.

(4)  In addition to other penalties provided in this section, the department or the state attorneys and their assistants are authorized to apply to the circuit courts within their respective jurisdictions, and such courts shall have jurisdiction, upon hearing and for cause shown, to grant temporary or permanent injunctions restraining any person or entity engaging in the business of manufactured housing installation or the manufacturing of components, products, or systems from installing homes or manufacturing or selling such components, products, or systems in a manner not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department or restraining any persons in the business of installing such components, products, or systems from using devices that do not meet the uniform standards set forth by the department or from installing such components, products, or systems in a manner not in accordance with the uniform standards set forth by the department, whether or not there exists an adequate remedy at law, and such injunctions shall issue without bond.

(5)  This section applies only to a mobile home, manufactured home, or park trailer that is being used as a dwelling place and that is located on a particular location for a period of time exceeding 14 days, for a mobile or manufactured home, or 45 days, for a park trailer.

(6)  For the purposes of this section, the definitions set forth in s. 320.822 apply.

History.--s. 6, ch. 73-182; s. 2, ch. 74-9; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 4, ch. 84-182; s. 12, ch. 85-343; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 38, ch. 99-248; s. 7, ch. 2004-283.

320.833  Retention, destruction, and reproduction of records; electronic retention.--Records and documents of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, created in compliance with, and in the implementation of, chapter 319 and this chapter, shall be retained by the department as specified in record retention schedules established under the general provisions of chapter 119. Further, the department is hereby authorized:

(1)  To destroy, or otherwise dispose of, those records and documents, in conformity with the approved retention schedules.

(2)  To photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce on film, as authorized and directed by the approved retention schedules, whereby each page will be exposed in exact conformity with the original records and documents retained in compliance with the provisions of this section. Photographs or microphotographs in the form of film or print of any records, made in compliance with the provisions of this section, shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs or microphotographs.

(3)  Beginning December 1, 2001, the department may maintain all records required or obtained in compliance with, and in the implementation of, chapter 319 and this chapter exclusively by electronic means.

History.--s. 5, ch. 65-190; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 77-443; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 33, ch. 2000-313.

Note.--Former s. 318.051.

320.8335  Disclosure of manner used in determining length of mobile homes.--When the length of the coupling mechanism is included in the overall length of a mobile home, any person who engages in the trade or commerce of selling mobile homes must disclose in writing to the buyer, before the buyer signs a contract for sale, that the length of the coupling mechanism has been included in the length of the mobile home. Any advertisement or other communication which describes a mobile home in terms of its length or width shall conform to the requirements of this section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 75-27; s. 3, ch. 78-221; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.834  Purpose.--It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure the safety and welfare of residents of mobile homes through an inspection program conducted by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Mobile homes are a primary affordable housing resource of many of the residents of the state and satisfy a large segment of statewide housing needs. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the department, mobile home dealers, and mobile home manufacturers continue to work together to meet the applicable code requirements for mobile homes and that such dealers and manufacturers share the responsibilities of warranting mobile homes in accordance with applicable codes and resolving legitimate consumer complaints in a timely, efficient manner.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 8, 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 8, ch. 2004-283.

320.835  Mobile home and recreational vehicle warranties.--Each manufacturer, dealer, installer, and supplier of mobile homes or recreational vehicles shall warrant each new mobile home or recreational vehicle sold in this state and the setup of each such mobile home, in accordance with the warranty requirements prescribed by this section, for a period of at least 12 months, measured from the date of delivery of the mobile home to the buyer or the date of sale of the recreational vehicle in the case of a manufacturer or dealer, or from the date of receipt of a certificate of occupancy in the case of an installer. The warranty requirements of each manufacturer, dealer, installer, and supplier of mobile homes or recreational vehicles are as follows:

(1)  The manufacturer warrants:

(a)  For a mobile home or recreational vehicle, that all structural elements; plumbing systems; heating, cooling, and fuel-burning systems; electrical systems; fire prevention systems; and any other components or conditions included by the manufacturer are free from substantial defect.

(b)  That 100-ampere electrical service exists in the mobile home.

(2)  The dealer warrants:

(a)  That any modifications or alterations made to the mobile home or recreational vehicle by the dealer or authorized by the dealer shall be free from substantial defect. Alterations or modifications made by a dealer shall relieve the manufacturer of warranty responsibility only as to the item altered or modified.

(b)  That setup operations performed on the mobile home are performed in compliance with s. 320.8325.

(c)  That substantial defects do not occur to the mobile home during setup or by transporting it to the occupancy site.

When the setup of a mobile home is performed by a person who is not an employee or agent of the mobile home manufacturer or dealer and is not compensated or authorized by, or connected with, such manufacturer or dealer, then the warranty responsibility of the manufacturer or dealer as to setup shall be limited to transporting the mobile home to the occupancy site free from substantial defect.

(3)  The installer warrants that the setup operations performed on the mobile home are performed in compliance with s. 320.8325 and department rules governing the installation.

(4)  The supplier warrants that any warranties generally offered in the ordinary sale of his or her product to consumers shall be extended to buyers of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. When no warranty is extended by suppliers, the manufacturer shall assume warranty responsibility for that component.

(5)  The department may adopt rules under chapter 120 to resolve disputes that may arise among the mobile home manufacturer, dealer, installer, or supplier. Those rules must comply with the dispute resolution process as set forth in the federal Manufactured Housing Improvement Act.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 42, ch. 77-357; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 379, ch. 95-148; s. 9, ch. 2004-283.

320.836  Presenting warranty claim.--The claim in writing, stating the substance of the warranty defect, may be presented to the manufacturer, dealer, or supplier. When the person notified is not the responsible party he or she shall inform the claimant and shall notify the responsible party of the warranty claim immediately.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 380, ch. 95-148.

320.837  Warranty service.--

(1)  When a service agreement exists between manufacturers, dealers, and suppliers to provide warranty service, the agreement may specify which party is to remedy warranty defects. However, when a warranty defect is not properly remedied, the responsible party as determined pursuant to s. 320.835 shall be responsible for providing warranty service.

(2)  When no service agreement exists for warranty service, the responsible party as designated by s. 320.835 is responsible for remedying the warranty defect.

(3)  The defect shall be remedied within 30 days of receipt of the written notification of the warranty claim unless the claim is unreasonable or bona fide reasons exist for not remedying the defect. When sufficient reasons exist for not remedying the defect or the claim is unreasonable, the responsible party shall respond to the claimant in writing with its reasons for not promptly remedying the defect and what further action is contemplated by the responsible party.

(4)  When the person remedying the defect is not the responsible party as designated by s. 320.835 he or she shall be entitled to reasonable compensation paid to him or her by the responsible party. Conduct which coerces or requires a nonresponsible party to perform warranty service is a violation of this section.

(5)  Warranty service shall be performed at the site at which the mobile home is initially delivered to the buyer, except for components which can be removed for service without substantial expense or inconvenience to the buyer.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 381, ch. 95-148.

320.838  Civil action.--Notwithstanding the existence of other remedies, a buyer may bring a civil suit for damages against a responsible party who fails to satisfactorily resolve a warranty claim. Damages shall be the actual costs of remedying the defect. Court costs and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the prevailing party. When the court finds that failure to honor warranty claims is a consistent pattern of conduct of the responsible party, or that the defect is so severe as to significantly impair the safety of the mobile home, it may assess punitive damages against the responsible party.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.839  Cumulative remedies.--The warranty provided for in this act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other rights and privileges which the buyer may have under any other law or instrument. The manufacturer, dealer or supplier shall not require the buyer to waive his or her rights under this act or any other rights under law. Any such waiver shall be deemed contrary to public policy and unenforceable and void.

History.--s. 16, ch. 74-68; s. 9, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 382, ch. 95-148.

320.840  Liquidated damages.--The retail seller of a mobile home may, in the absence of an express provision in the sales contract stipulating reasonable liquidated damages or retention of down payment or deposit if the buyer fails to accept delivery of a mobile home, retain maximum damages according to the following terms:

(1)  If the mobile home is in the seller's stock and not specially ordered from the manufacturer for the buyer, the maximum retention shall be $50.

(2)  If the mobile home is a single-wide and specially ordered from the manufacturer for the buyer, the maximum retention shall be $350.

(3)  If the mobile home is larger than a single-wide and specially ordered for the buyer from the manufacturer, the maximum retention shall be $700.

History.--s. 10, ch. 74-169; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.861  Inspection of records; production of evidence; subpoena power.--

(1)  The department may inspect the pertinent books, records, letters, and contracts of any licensee, whether dealer or manufacturer, relating to any written complaint made to it against such licensee.

(2)  The department is granted and authorized to exercise the power of subpoena for the attendance of witnesses and the production of any documentary evidence necessary to the disposition by it of any written complaint against any licensee, whether dealer or manufacturer.

History.--s. 12, ch. 74-68; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 13, 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.862  Revocation of license held by firms or corporations.--If any applicant or licensee is a firm or corporation, it shall be sufficient cause for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license that any officer, director, or trustee of the firm or corporation, or any member in case of a partnership, has been guilty of an act or omission which would be cause for refusing, suspending, or revoking a license to such party as an individual. Each licensee shall be responsible for the acts of any of its employees while acting as its agent if the licensee approved of, or had knowledge of, the acts or other similar acts and, after such approval or knowledge, retained the benefits, proceeds, profits, or advantages accruing from, or otherwise ratified, the acts.

History.--s. 13, ch. 74-68; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 16, 17, ch. 80-217; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429.

320.865  Maintenance of records by the department.--Beginning December 1, 2001, the department shall maintain electronic records of all complaints filed against licensees licensed under the provisions of ss. 320.27, 320.61, 320.77, 320.771, and 320.8225, any other provision of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding. The records shall contain all enforcement actions taken against licensees and against unlicensed persons acting in a capacity which would require them to be licensed under those sections. The electronic file of each licensee and unlicensed person shall contain a record of any complaints filed against him or her and a record of any enforcement actions taken against him or her. The complainant and the referring agency, if there is one, shall be advised of the disposition by the department of the complaint within 10 days of such action.

History.--s. 3, ch. 80-217; s. 201, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 88-147; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 383, ch. 95-148; s. 26, ch. 95-333; s. 34, ch. 2000-313.

320.90  Notification of consumer's rights.--The department shall develop a motor vehicle consumer's rights pamphlet which shall be distributed free of charge by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the motor vehicle owner upon request. Such pamphlet must contain information relating to odometer fraud and provide a summary of the rights and remedies available to all purchasers of motor vehicles.

History.--s. 10, ch. 89-333.

320.95  Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.--The department is authorized to accept any application provided for under this chapter by electronic or telephonic means.

History.--s. 21, ch. 97-300.

320.96  Secure print-on-demand electronic temporary license plate system.--The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall implement a secure print-on-demand electronic temporary license plate registration, record retention, and issue system for use by every department-authorized issuer of temporary license plates by the end of the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Secure print-on-demand for this purpose means validating state registration data using higher levels of commercially accepted data encryption methods from the point of department connectivity to the license plate printer. The temporary license plate media used for this purpose shall be a nonpermeable material that maintains its structural integrity, including graphic and data adhesion, in all weather conditions after being placed on a vehicle. For public safety in general and for the safety of law enforcement officers, placement of temporary license plates on the outside of the vehicle and in the provided license plate mount when available is encouraged. The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this program in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The department may provide such exemptions as may be feasibly required.

History.--s. 8, ch. 2007-66.